Portable loading-trap.



B. RANSOME.

PORTABLE LOADING TRAP.

APPLIOATION FILED una?, 1911.

Patented 111111126, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. L

B. RANSOME.

PonTABLB LOADING TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27, 1911.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BERNARD RANSOME, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

PORTABLE LOADING-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 27, 1911.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Serial No. 623,561.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BERNARD Rmsoale, citizen of the United States, residing at. Oakland,`in t-he county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Portable Loading- Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to what I term a portable loading trap, which is especially designed for the rapid, economical moving of earth and material and such work as may be effected by the use of scrapers which may load themselves while being` hauled over the ground, thence transport their loads and dcliver them through the trap passing over the outward incline and again loading upon the opposite side; thus alternately loading from one side and the other and delivering the material to the carrying belt, the apparatus being capable of instant transportation to a new point when the work at any one point has been completed.

It consists of a platform having adjustable runways upon opposite sides and a central trap or opening', a low wheel truck or framework upon which the device is carried, and an endless traveling belt carried upon the truck below the platform and trap, so that material may be constantly delivered from the roadway or surface to any desired point of deposit.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts. as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my apparatus, the side inclines being removed. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view.

For the purposes of road and like work, it is customary to use self-loading Scrapers which are hauled by animals, so that the earth and material may be readily excavated and at the same time loaded in the scrapers,

and t-he material is then moved to some point of deposit. It is frequently necessary that this material should be carried entirely away from the point from which it is excavated and ordinary dumping at a distance or loading into cars or the like greatly adds to the expense of such Work.

It is the object of my invention to provide a means for readily disposing of the excavated material with no delay and no extra handling and to also make it possible to maintain the apparatus at all times at a convenient distance from the work to be done. In street work it is customary to take one block at a time, and for this purpose the apparatus may be conveniently located at or near the center of the block, so thatl the Scrapers may be loaded from one end, thence driven upon the apparatus, passing off at the opposite side and loading again at the opposite side; thus continually working back and forth without delay.

As shown is the drawings, I employ a low wheeled truck, as at A. The wheels may be of any suitable size and preferably a bent axle may be employed which will bring the body or platform of the truck as close to the ground as possible and allow it clearance for necessary moving. Upon this truck I erect a platform 2 at a sufficient height above the body of the truck to admit of an endless carrying belt 3 of any suitable or desired description, and this belt is adapted to travel preferably longitudinally of the truck, connecting at the end with a suitable, adjustable elevating belt, as at 4. This belt may be propelled by any suitable motor, as at 5, connecting with a power transmitting pulley, as at G. The upper part of the belt may travel over'rollers disposed above the Hoor of the truck, and the lower or return part of the belt may be sutliciently supported to prevent its sagging upon the ground, by other rollers beneath the body of the truck. The platform 2 may have a central trap or opening 6. Upon each side of this platform are hinged runways 7 of such a length that the grade or inclination will be easy, so that the scrapers or devices by which the material is brought to the apparatus may easily pass up these inclines.

In order to render the device convenient for transportation, I have shown a framework or structure 8 with suitable pulleys and connecting links or chains 9 extending to the outer end of the inclines 7, so that the latter may be readily drawn up and stand substantially vertical against the framework. In this condition it is only necessary to attach a team to the truck and haul it to any desired position, after which the runways may be again let down and the apparatus in instant readiness for use.

In order to guide the material which is discharged through the trap 6a and cause it to be deposited upon the center of the carrying belt 3, I have shown convergent inclines 10 upon each side of the trap. This insures the material falling centrally upon the belt and prevents its scattering over the edges and thus clogging the apparatus.

The work is most conveniently executed by setting this apparatus at apoint approximately central of the space to be operated overand with the inclines or runways eX- tending in the direction of the work. If Scrapers are used, they may be loaded from one side of the apparatus, thence the team driven up the incline, the load discharged through the trap upon the belt, the scraper passing over the opposite incline, thence loading upon the opposite side and returning; thus a constant succession of scrapers may be operating and the work made very continuous. rl`he small distance to which the material must be raised in the first instance makes the work very rapid and economical, vand if it is necessary to raise it to any greater height, the extension or inclined elevator t serves for this purpose. If it is desired to load cars, the apparatus may be set with the elevating carrier so disposed that the cars can be brought in line beneath the discharge end of the carrier, and the load transferred directly withoutany meehanical lifting lor the use of Wagons or other expedients.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- An improved portable loading apparatus, consisting of a wheeled truck having a platform elevated above the body thereof, said platform having an opening through it, a traveling belt extending lengthwise of the truck and supported throughout its length on the body thereof, said belt being arranged below the platform and said opening, a motor carried by said platform having connection with said belt, runways at opposite sides of the platform, and hinged along their long sides, to the corresponding sides of the platform, means for raising and lowering the runways, a second endless belt adjustably connected to the truck adjacent one end of the first-named belt, said belt eX- tending in the same direction and arranged one behind the other, and means for raising and lowering said second belt.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BERNARD RANSOME.

Witnesses:

A.. L. BEARD, E. I'I. I'IEAvnY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

